The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-07-03
A PECULIAR DOVER SUIT.
INTERESTING MARITAL RELATIONS
REVEALED By TRANSFER.


A Rich Hoboken Printer who is sus-
pectcd of Having Three Wives is
Brought to Terms by His First Wife,
Who Also has Another Husband.
The death last October of John Livesey,
an old resident of Hoboken, who resided at
the time of his decease at No. GO Garden
street. has led to the recent settlement in
this city of dover claim that revealed
peculiar marital relations on the part
Of Livesey's son, John Jr. Young
Iivesey was an only child, and when his
father died he was the sole heir to the es-
tate, which amounts to nearly 500, 600
The efforts of the heir to dispose of some
of the property brought out the fact thar
he had at least two wives now living, each
of whom claims right of dover in the
property.
In the year 1869 young Livesey was
sort of hail fellow we'll met. West Hobo
ken was then a little village with very little
to boast Of Miss Emma V. Harris was q
fair young girl of sixteen years. Livesey,
who was about twenty-five years of age,
met her and fell in love. He proposed
marriage to her and she agreed, and on the
18th of September 1869, the couple were
made man and wife by the Rev Mr.. Egg
bert, of the Presbyterian Church, the only
church in West Hoboken at that time.
From all accounts the marriage did not
prove a happy one. One year had hardly
passed after the marriage when Llvesey
deserted his young wife and left for parts
unknown. Shortly after her husbands
abandonment child was born to Mrs.
Livesey and. she was compelled to look to
her mother for maintenance. Friends of
Mrs. Livesey declare that her husband
treated her in most brutal manner and
that she retains to the resent day the
marks of her husbands fingers on her
neck where be had made an attempt to
choke her. Years rolled on and the de-
serted ife heard nothing from her hus-
band. She believed him to be among the
dead, and when ano ther admirer asked her
to become his wife she consented, and she
is now living in this CITY in grand style,
with a family. She had not secured a di-
voree, but was advised by what she sup
posed to be good authority that if her first
husband had been absent for at least seven
years it was presumption of his death
and she could contract q second marriage
without divorce with impunity.
The fortunes of Livesey carried him to
Providence, r. l., where he took posi-
ton as q printer. Rumor has it, and his
relatives in Hoboken believe it to be a fact,
that he married there within few years
after he deserted his first wife, and it is
matter of cure Mt rumor among persons
interested IN his family. that after living
with his second wife for short time he
abandoned her also, and was accused of
criminal deed. He drifted around until
the year 1874, when he arrived in New
York city. He met young woman there
and married her in Catholic church. He
has lived with her ever since, and has now
a family of five children. When he fell
heir to his fathers estate, the question of
a right of dover by his first wife was
raised. She had not secured divorce
from him, and Notwithstanding her second
marriage she might claim to be his legal
wife. This placed clodd upon the title
to the property, and in order to
have clear title Livesey paid his first wife.
few days ago.. large sum Of
money for a release of her right
to an interest in the property, and in order
60 fix matters the first wife will apply to
the Court of Chancery for an absolute
divorce from Liyesey on the ground of
adultery.
Llvesey is now living in New York city
with his family. and since he fell heir to
his fathers estate has organized the print
ing establishment of Liyesey q McAuley
on Centre street.
Mr.. James Livesey, an uncle of young
Livesey, residing at 50 Garden street, Ho-
boken, admitted last nigat that i. was be-
lieved by the family that the young man
had contracted at least two marriages, and
young Livesey's cou nsel also admitted that
he married his present wife when he
learned that his first wife had married a
second time.
The husband of Livesey's first wife was
also seen last night. but he refused to make
any statement whatever.
1t is not known if the woman with whom
he contracted the alleged second marriage
is still living. If she is, however, and
makes claim, some interesting facts will
be developed.